Oncoman
Active member
Intermittent rain all previous night made for a pretty wet hike, with numerous overflown streams. Impossible to keep feet dry. Very strong winds, around 35 mph from NE, on the Saddleback ridge with gushes at 50 mph by moments. Learned that loose straps from packsack can slap you in the face quite violently & most unsuspectingly, if not tied up properly in the presence of strong winds.
Fog & low clouds prevented good visibility, though I momentarily caught a glimpse of Sugarloaf, Spaulding & Abraham range to the north from the Horn summit. Met a few hikers that morning, but was the only one who continued on to the Horn. Minimal ice/snow left on trails. No need for crampons or snowshoes.
Was back to my car by 14h20, after a 6h20min. hike, not overly tired & with still many hrs of daylight left, so that I decided to do Chain of Ponds Snow on my way back to Montréal. Followed the Penobscot Indian Reserve Rd and then North Rd to parking area on left, 5 miles from ME27.
You then follow an old logging rd straight ahead for about 300-400 yards before turning left on ATV trail, whose starting point is marked by 5ft tall red columns. Very shortly thereafter you cross the 1st of 3 wooden bridges very well maintained for ATV travel. After about 2 miles & ¼ mile past the 3rd bridge, you turn right onto Snow Mtn trail, indicated by wooden sign on tree located 3 yards on right from start of trail. A black arrow on yellow background plastic board showing you where to turn right off ATV trail is now fallen on the ground but the wooden frame is still nailed to the tree on the right.
Approx. 100 yards from start of Snow Mtn trail you intersect another ATV trail. Continue straight ahead. Trail thereafter is staight forward to follow, but was very wet & muddy that day.Many blowdowns here and there, but nothing vicious enough to make following the trail difficult. A bit of snow & ice patches left near summit, but quite manageable with boots only. Had nice view of Big Island Lake on way up. Again it was very windy above 3000ft as proven by the howling of the spruce trees over my head. I recall feeling quite lonely & insecure at the time, fearing an impending rain storm or even perhaps hail or snow. The sky was very cloudy and nightfall approaching.
But I made it to the summit uneventfullly, climbed halfway up the steel ladder of the old fire tower (its top observation platform is now fallen off) to briefly admire the nearby lakes & mountain ranges. The strong winds deterred me from going any higher. I did nor linger and raced back down to my car which I reached at 19h26 safely and dry, except for very cold feet. The rain storm caught up to me while driving back home 1½ hrs later. It had taken me 3h15min. to complete this hike.
I was by then quite tired, but very satisfied with 21.4 miles of trail covered that day, 4920 ft of ascension and with NEHH #76, #77 & #78 now ticked off my list.
Pierre
Fog & low clouds prevented good visibility, though I momentarily caught a glimpse of Sugarloaf, Spaulding & Abraham range to the north from the Horn summit. Met a few hikers that morning, but was the only one who continued on to the Horn. Minimal ice/snow left on trails. No need for crampons or snowshoes.
Was back to my car by 14h20, after a 6h20min. hike, not overly tired & with still many hrs of daylight left, so that I decided to do Chain of Ponds Snow on my way back to Montréal. Followed the Penobscot Indian Reserve Rd and then North Rd to parking area on left, 5 miles from ME27.
You then follow an old logging rd straight ahead for about 300-400 yards before turning left on ATV trail, whose starting point is marked by 5ft tall red columns. Very shortly thereafter you cross the 1st of 3 wooden bridges very well maintained for ATV travel. After about 2 miles & ¼ mile past the 3rd bridge, you turn right onto Snow Mtn trail, indicated by wooden sign on tree located 3 yards on right from start of trail. A black arrow on yellow background plastic board showing you where to turn right off ATV trail is now fallen on the ground but the wooden frame is still nailed to the tree on the right.
Approx. 100 yards from start of Snow Mtn trail you intersect another ATV trail. Continue straight ahead. Trail thereafter is staight forward to follow, but was very wet & muddy that day.Many blowdowns here and there, but nothing vicious enough to make following the trail difficult. A bit of snow & ice patches left near summit, but quite manageable with boots only. Had nice view of Big Island Lake on way up. Again it was very windy above 3000ft as proven by the howling of the spruce trees over my head. I recall feeling quite lonely & insecure at the time, fearing an impending rain storm or even perhaps hail or snow. The sky was very cloudy and nightfall approaching.
But I made it to the summit uneventfullly, climbed halfway up the steel ladder of the old fire tower (its top observation platform is now fallen off) to briefly admire the nearby lakes & mountain ranges. The strong winds deterred me from going any higher. I did nor linger and raced back down to my car which I reached at 19h26 safely and dry, except for very cold feet. The rain storm caught up to me while driving back home 1½ hrs later. It had taken me 3h15min. to complete this hike.
I was by then quite tired, but very satisfied with 21.4 miles of trail covered that day, 4920 ft of ascension and with NEHH #76, #77 & #78 now ticked off my list.
Pierre
